Pirate radio in nyc?

Question

i want to know is it legal to have a pirate radio in nyc?

Answer 1

No it isn't.  Yet there are TONS of pirates on the radio dial (from a Bronx point of view, mainly Caribbean on the following frequencies...104.7, 95.1, 101.5, 96.3, 91.9, 94.3).

How they can get away with it is that via state law (not federal law per se), would only fine them about $1,000 to $10,000 per violation.  Which could be NOTHING for these guys to do since some of these pirate stations actually run commercials for local businesses!   And if one pirate shuts down, another takes their place.

Answer 2

Pirate radio is of course not legal anywhere in the USA. The FCC eventually will catch you, and shut your station down and add in a healthy fine as well as confiscating your equipment.

You have 2 choices.  

You can spend a few million and obtain a commercial radio license from the FCC and a few million dollars more a year to rent space for your antenna on  perhaps The Empire State Building.

You can legally own and operate a very low power radio station under FCC Rules Part 15:

http://lwca.org/library/regs/Part15_2004...

You will be allowed to use 100 milliwatts with a very small antenna in the AM radio band or a field strength of 250 microvolts / meter at a distance of 3 meters from the antenna for FM radio broadcasts.  Expect this low power signal to reach out about 1/4 mile to about 3/4 mile from your station at best.

Good luck in your endeavors